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Janet Jackson breaks silence to give pregnancy update

Pregnant Janet Jackson has taken to Twitter for the first time in several months to assure fans she's doing well.

The 50-year-old singer has been keeping out of the spotlight ever since she confirmed to People magazine in October (16) she and husband Wissam Al Mana are expecting their first child together.

But Janet broke her silence on Saturday (19Nov16) to post a message on Twitter thanking fans for their love and support.

"Hey you guys.. It's been awhile.. but I'm still listening.. I feel your love and prayers.. Thank you.. and I'm doing well.. Al Hamdu lillah," she wrote in her first post on the micro-blogging platform since August (16).

The term 'Al Hamdu lillah' is an Arabic phrase that means 'praise be to God'.

Janet's return to social media comes just over a week after her ex-husband James DeBarge grabbed headlines by making shocking allegations he shares a secret daughter with her.

"I'm tired of the secrecy," he revealed on an episode of U.S. reality show Growing Up Hip Hop. "To be honest with you, I didn't know. I was under the impression that there was no baby, and I wanted to believe it's not true. But it is."

According to DeBarge, who Jackson eloped with in 1984 and divorced from in 1985, she put her daughter up for adoption. Janet's representatives have yet to comment on her ex's unconfirmed remarks.

Meanwhile, the Jackson family is preparing for the birth of the Rhythm Nation superstar's new baby, with her sibling Jermaine Jackson gushing over how excited he is for the impending arrival.

"I’m proud to be an uncle and I can’t wait to see how this baby is going to look," he told Us Weekly. "She’ll be a great mother because she is very tough, very strict. I tell her, 'If you need any parenting skills or any baby skills, let me know because I’m the best diaper changer there is on this planet, still to this day'."